Intaglio web printing machine



' t 1945. A. M. ZUCKE'RMAN 2,386,029

, INTAGLIQ'WEB PRINTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 11,;1942 4 Sheets-Sheet l I: n:-:-.m .1.

Oct. 2, 1945. A. M. ZUCKERMAN INTAGLIO WEB PRINTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 11, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 11, 1942 I N V EN TOR A. M. ZUCKERMAN INTAGLIO WEB PRINTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 11, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 eral reversible intaglio Patented Oct. 2, 1945- INTAGLIO WEB PRINTING MACHINE Adolph M. Zuckerman, New York, N. Y., assignmto R. Hoe & 00., Inc., New York, N. Y. a corporation of New York Application December 11 1942, Serial No 468,701

, 4 Claims. (Cl. 101-152) This invention relates to intaglio printing, and more particularly to a rotogravure multi-color web printing machine of improved construction and arrangement.

Heretofore, intaglioweb printing units have been arranged in a line to print multiple colors on one or both sides of the web, but in such arrangement it is necessary to employ a plurality of reversible intaglio printing units or to provide a number of turner bars located in such operable relation to the printing units as to reverse the web between adjacent units.

Arrangements in which a plurality of reversible intaglio printing units are employed have proven objectionable owing to the relatively great expense entailed in the provision of such units. In a reversible intaglio printing unit, an ink fountain of special design having doctor blade supporting mechanism at each side thereof is required, and, owing to the necessity of providing means for convenient and expeditious removal of the form cylinder from the ink fountain, the additional doctor blade supporting mechanism introduces intricacies in the design and entails considerable expense. Furthermore, when it is necessary to run a web in both directions through an intaglio printing unit employing air drying equipment, two driers must be provided for each unit, and hence the cost of a machine having sevprinting units is greatly increased.

If turner bars are provided to reverse the web between adjacent units, then their provision and Another object of this invention is to provide an improved reversible intaglio printing unit for use in a mu'lti-color rotogravure printing machine, the unit having alternatively operable doctor .blades and identical web paths located at eachside of the unit to conform to the web drying portion of alternatively operable drying hoods or chambers.

A specific object of this invention is to provide a multi-color intaglio web printing machine having a plurality of non-reversible intaglio printing units and a single reversible intaglio printing unit arranged ina line with the reversible unit located between two non-reversible units so that a web maybe run in either direction I through and from the reversible unit to a selected non-reversible unit located at either side of the reversible unit. i U

A more specific object of this invention is to provide a multi-color intaglio webprinting machine having a plurality of non-reversible intaglio printing units, a single reversible intaglio printing unit and a plurality of feed roll stands arranged in a line with the reversiblev unit located between two non-reversible units, and a roll stand located at each side of the reversible unit between the reversible unit and the adjacent nonreversible unit so that a web may be run from the roll stand in either direction to and through the reversible unit and from this unit to a selected non-reversible unit at either side of the reversible unit, whereby one or more webs may be printed in multi-color on one or both faces.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an intaglio web printing machine of generally improved construction, wherebythe device will be simple, durable and inexpensive in construction, as well as convenient, practical, serviceable and eflicient in its use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts, and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that various changes in form, proportion and minor details of construction may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any advantages of the invention.

For a complete disclosure of the invention, a detailed description of the improved intaglio web printing machine will-now be given in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, wherein- Figure 1 is an elevation depicting the improved reversible intaglio printing unit having alternately operable drying hoods and cooling roller operably associatedtherewith, parts being diagrammatically indicated; I

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic elevation of the cooling roller and associated guide rollers, depicting the web running in the direction shown in Figures 3 and 7;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic side elevation depicting a plurality of intaglio printing units and a folder in line Figure 8 is a diagrammatic indicationof the products produced by the web run arrangement disclosed in Figure 7.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts, there is depicted a multi-color intaglio web printing machine having a conventional base or bed In to support a plurality of nonreversible intaglio printing units A, B, C and D, a reversible intaglio printing unit R, a suitable 7 folder F, and feed roll stands S and 80 arranged in a line. A nest of conventional turner bars T are located above the folder F, and cooperable slitter rollers Sr and slitter discs Sd are located operably ahead of and adjacent the turner bars, as indicated in the drawings.

Each unit includes a frame H which is suitably secured to and supported by the bed l0, and the upper portion of the frames are tied together in predetermined spaced relation by conventionalb'races l2. An intaglio ink fountain f|3 is provided for each unit, and an intaglio form cylinder I5 is suitably supported for-rotation within the fountain, in conformity withthe usual practice, with a portion of the ,cylinder submerged in the ink contained therein. An impression roller or cylinder I6 is rotatably mounted for printing cooperation with the form cylinder, and. reenforcing or "backup rollers operablyengage each impresison cylinder I6.

The printing cylinders of each non-reversible orstandard intaglio printing unit are driven from a line shaft ,L through the conventional and well known drive instrumentalities, not shown, and the cylinders of the reversible unit 20b similarly disposed at the other side of the unit. These rollers are supported in arcuate disposition to guide a web from either side of the reversible unit R through a substantial arcuate path to expose the web to a drying hood 2|a or 2|b. The arcuate web paths defined by the rollers 20a and 20b converge towards each other at their upper portions, as indicated in the drawings. A drying hood 2 la or Zlb is pivotally supported at each side of thereversible unit R, as indicated at 22, so that a selected hood may be swung about its pivotal support 22. away irom the web path to inoperative position.

By this arrangement, a selected hood may be moved to drying relation with respect to the web, to thereby dry the web as it moves away from the printing cylinders, according to the direction of rotation of the cylinders.

A web-cooling roller is provided for each standard or non-reversing unit, and these rollers' have been designated 25a, 25b, 25c-and-25d. A similar cooling roller 251 is provided for the reversible unitR. These rollers are Preferably of the water-cooled type,.which are well known in the art, but, of course, other cooling mediums maybe employed in these rollers.

Web-guide rollers 26 are provided to direct the webs from the feed rolls r, supported in the roll stands to and through the printing units, around the cooling rollers; and finally around the slitter rollers to the turner bars or folder, or other web destination. The cooling roller 25r for the reversible unit R has two or more guide rollers 26a andlfib (Figure 1) operably associated therewith in order to guide a web from either side of the reversible unit to and around the cooling roller 251', as will be more fully explained cylinder l5, and each support includes a car- R are driven from the line shaft L through conventional reversing drive mechanism, not shown, and which is also well'understood to those skilled in the art. By this arrangement, the printing cylinders of the standard units A, B, C and D are driven in one direction, and the printin'g cylinders of the reversing unit R are driven in both directions, for explained.

Each standard or non-reversibleintaglio printing unit hasa group of related web-guide rollers 20 rotatably supported at one side of the unit and arranged in substantially arcuate disa reason to be hereinafter position to thereby guide the web through an approximately arcuate path to expose the web in this path to the drying action of a conventional drying hood or chamber 2|, which is well known to. those skilled in the art.

The drying hoods 2| are supported by brackets and the conventional superstructure, not

riage 30, which is slidably supported on ways 3| or 3|a. .A blade holder arm 32 is pivotally secured to each carriage, as indicated at 33, and the outer terminal of each arm 32 supports a blade holder 35, which in turn supports a doctor blade 21. By this arrangement, a selected doctor blade may be may ed .to operable engagement with the form cylinder surface, and the opposed blade may be swung from engagement therewith, according to the direction of rotation of the form cylinder I5. The slideways 3| are carried by the frame in the usual manner, and the slideways 3 la are supported on a bracket 36, which is suitably secured to the reversible unit frame I The slideways 3|a are positioned at a somewhat lower level than the slideways 3|, in. order to provide suflicient space for the removal of the cylinder i5. i

In this arrangement, the reversible unit R is located between two adjacent non-reversible shown, and they may be secured in fixed relation to the web path or they may be-supported for movement to and from the web path in order to afford access to the web and guide rollers.

The reversible unit R has a group of related rollers 20a disposed in arcuate formation at one side of the .unit, and another group of rollers units, and a roll stand is positioned in the line at each side of the reversible unit and interposed between the reversible unit and the adjacent nonreversible unit; Althoughany preferred number of non-reversible units may be employed in the line with the reversible unit, and the reversible unit may be positioned between any two adjacent non-reversible units, a preferred arrangement contemplates the use of four non-reversing ble units, which are located at the units, a single reversible unit, two roll stands and a folder in line, with the reversible unit positioned between the two=adjacent non-reversiof the line from the folder.

With this arrangement,a relatively large numcooling roller 25b, and then past guide route 26,

opposite end ber of'web runs, with either one or two webs,

may be made to "print the required number of impressions on each side or face of each web without providing turner bars between the units and with the employment of only a single reversito and through the printing unitC, where a second'impresslonis printed on the reverse side of theweb. After passing throughunit C, the web is guided past the'drying hood 2| of this unit,

around cooling roller 25c,and past guide rollers 2li,'to and through the printing unit D, where the third impression is printed on the reverse side ble unit, as will be more fully explained hereint In the web run arrangement depicted in Figure 3, a web W is led from either of the web rolls in the roll stand S, over guide rollers 26 to the non-reversible unit A. After the printing impression is made on one side of the web of this unit, it is led through thearcuate path defined J by the rollers adjacent this unit and past the web drier 2| of the unit. The webis then led over the cooling roller a and to and through i the reversible printing unit R, where an impression is printed on the reversed side of the web. For this web run, the dryinghood 2la has been swung to inoperative position, as shown "in full 'of the web. From this point the Web is guided by the rollers20 of unit D past the drying hood of the-unit, and thenaround the cooling roller "web W2 is led from'either of therolls in the lines in this figure, and the hood 2lb is moved to operable engagement with the-web path. Now the web is ledaround the rollers 20b, through the drier 2lb, and then over, coolingroller 25r,

unit, around the cooling roller 25b. and then to and through the unit C,where the third impression is printed On the reverse side of the web. After passing through the unitC, the web is guided past the dryinghood 2! of this unit,

- around the cooling roller 25c, and to and'through the unit D, where the fourth impression is printed on the reverse side of the. web. From this point the web is led past the drying hood of unit 1), around cooling roller 25d and over the selected slitter Sr, where the web is slit into ribbons and these ribbons are guided around the selected turner bars T, and then to and through the folder to their destination.

Thus, it is seen that with this web run arrangement, one impression is imprinted on one side of the web, and four impressions are imprinted on the other, as diagrammatically indicated in Figure 4, and these impressions are preferably in color.

In the web run arrangement depicted in Figure 5, a web W is led from either of the feed rolls in the'roll stand Sa, around guide rollers 26, to and through the reversible unit R, where one impression is imprinted on the obverse side or face of the web. For this web run, the drying hoods of the reversible unit R are positioned so that the hood 21a is swung to operable position, and the hood 2lbis moved to inoperative position, as indicated in Figure 5. From this point the web is led past the drying hood 2la 'over the cooling roller 257', around the web guide rollers 26b and 26a and past guide rollers 26, to and through the printing unit A, Where the second impression is imprinted on the observe side of the web. Now, the web W is led past the drying hood 2| of unit A, around cooling roller 25a, and then past guide rollers 26, to and through the printing unit B, where an impression is printed on the reverse side of the web. This web is then led past the drying hood 2| of unit B, around 'lower guide roller 26b, and to and through the unit B, where the second impression is printed on the reverse side of the web. From this point the web is led past the drying hood 2lof this roll stand S, past guide rollers 26, to and through the printing unit A, where an impression is printed on the obverseside of the web; Web W2 is then led over the guide rollers 20 of unit A, past the drying hood M of this unit, around the cooling roller 25d, and past webguide rollers 26, to and through the unitB, wherean impression is printed on the reverse side of the web. This,

web is then led past the drying hood 2| of unit B, around the cooling roller 25b, and past guide rollers 2-6-to the upper slitter roller- Sr. where theweb is slit into ribbons, and these ribbons are ied over turner" bars andthrough the folder, in

conformity with the usual lpractice. A second webW3 is led from "either ofthe'web supply rolls in roll stand Sa, past guide rollers 26, to the guide rollers 20?), and then past these rollers to the printingunit R. where an lmpressionis printed on the obverse side otthe web. In this web'run. the drying hood No is moved to operable posi tion, and the hood 2|b is swung to inoperable position, as indicated in Figure 7. After web W3 receives its impression in the reversible unit R, it is guided by the rollers 20a of this unit past the drying hood Zia, and then to the cooling roller 251', under the guide roller 26b, and around guide rollers 26, so that the web is directed be- 1 neath the unit B, and then to and through the roller 25c, past guide rollers 26, to and through the printing unit D, where a second impression is printed on.thereve1se side of the web; Now

this web is led past the drying hood 2| of unit D.

around cooling roller 25d, to the lower .slitter roller Sr, where the web is slit into ribbons, which ribbons are guided around selected turner bars, and then to and through the folder, in conformity with the usual practice.

By this arrangement, one web is printed with one impression on one side and two impressions on the other, and a second web is printed with one impressionon both sides, as indicated in the diagrammatic, Figure 8.

From the foregoing, it is manifest that this construction and arrangement affords economical and expeditious means for printing a single web, or a plurality of webs,in multi-color on one or both faces, with the employment of a single reversible unit, and without the employment of turner bars between the units.

, that one doctor blade is movably supported at each side of the printing cylinders and movable to and from operable engagement with a printing cylinder, guide rollers located to guide a web in printing relation between the printing cylin- .ders and to define a web path at each side of the printing unit immediately adjacent the printing cylinders. and two drying hoods each movably supported at each side of the unit and movable gtO and from operable relation with a web which is guided in the web path located at the same side of the'unit.

2. An intaglio web printing unit including reversibly driven printing cylinders, two doctor blade supporting mechanisms constructed and arranged so that each doctor blade is movable to and from operable engagement with a printing cylinder. guide rollers located to guide a web in printing relation between the printing cylinders and to define a web path at each side of the printing unit, each web path extending upwardly 'and inwardly from a point adjacent the printing and laterally remote from the vertical center f the unit to a point above the unit and immediately adjacent its vertical center, and two drying hoods, each pivotally supported at its upper terminal at a side of the unit adjacent a web path and movable about its pivot to operably engage angvg isengage the web in the said path.

3. In a'l'ii ie intaglio web printing machine, the

combination of two web roll feed stands, one reversible intaglio printing unit, a plurality of non-reversible intaglio printing units and a folder in horizontalalinement on one floor level, the reversible unit being located adjacent one end of the line with -a single non-reversible unit located in the line at an end thereof and adjacent and at one side of the reversible unit, a group of non-- reversible units in the line at the opposite side of feed stands through any selected unit or units to i the folder.

4. In a line intaglio web printing machine, the combination of two web roll feed stands, one

reversible intaglio printing unit, four non-reversible intaglio printing units and a folder in horizontal alinement on one floor level, the re- I versible unit being located adjacent one end of the line with a single non-reversible unit located in the line at an end thereof and adjacent and at one side of the reversible unit, a group of three non-reversible units in the line at the opposite side of the reversible unit, the folder being located at the opposite end of the line immediately adjacent the outermost unit of the three non-reversible units, a web roll feed stand being operably positioned in the line at each side of the reversible unit and located wholly between the reversible unit and the immediately adjacent nonreversible unit, and web guide members for guiding a web or webs from either or both web roll feedstands through any selected unit or units to the folder.

ADOLPH M. ZUCKERMAN. 

